This document consists of two critical papers on schooling in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), followed by reports on specific subject areas. The first paper, "If Wishes Were Horses: The Parent Role in a Participative System of Schooling," by C. Blakers, is a comprehensive examination of concepts, relationships, and issues…

This paper reports the results of a qualitative evaluation of the Chapter 1 Program Improvement Workshop Series--Level II, funded by the Educational Testing Service, Technical Assistance Center (TAC), for Region 3. Focus is on the role of commitment in influencing change. The methodological approach, advocated by M. Q. Patton (1986), focuses on:…

This booklet, printed in both English and Spanish, offers suggestions to parents for getting the most out of a visit to their children's schools during New York City's Open School Week. It is comprised of five sections. The first section, "The Parent/Teacher Conference," discusses the following areas: (1) questions and concerns to…

This guide is designed to help schools and teachers communicate better with parents. Communication is seen as the basic foundation for learning and the means for developing parent involvement programs and building a strong home-school partnership. The guide presents strategies that schools and teachers are using to communicate with parents and…

The intent of this symposium report is to share information with educators and other professionals who work with American Indian exceptional children. In this monograph, most symposium presentations, and in some cases the ensuring discussion, are summarized. Introductory remarks are provided by Gil Pena of the All-Indian Pueblo Council, and this…

Efforts were undertaken to develop a parental interview for determining parenting style of parents of children of all ages and children within several subcultural groups. The interview provided mothers with descriptions of common situations in the home and asked the mothers to choose specific responses representing the following parenting styles:…

Under the guidance of alert adults, young children can develop new understandings, learn valuable skills, and acquire positive attitudes toward life and learning by taking part in activities in the kitchen. This book provides ideas that parents and parent surrogates can use to provide experiences in the kitchen that will contribute to children's…

The declining rate of college-bound high school students and the growing high school dropout rate of minorities both nationally and locally are trends that need to be immediately addressed and reversed. In an effort to reverse the trends, children need academic encouragement in elementary and middle school, and need at an early age to envision…

Problem definition appears to influence problem solving outcomes with respect to their quality. In order to determine whether or not families, confronted as a group by a series of possibly problematic situations, would engage in a problem definition phase, and whether or not the phase or its absence would be related to family members' satisfaction…

These parent resource materials address seven topics of concern to parents of preschool, elementary school, and adolescent children. The first brochure offers tips on choosing child care, discussing in-home, family, center, and infant-toddler care. A checklist is included for assessing day care programs, caregivers, and environments. The second…

From ancient times through the early centuries of this country's history, early puberty has been considered the proper time to go to school. Now, however, educators and psychologists have brainwashed the public into thinking that public schools can outparent families. The state has taken over education and removed children from the home at too…

A review of the research on the effects of parental influence and parental involvement on children's reading achievement indicates that when parents take an active and positive part in their child's education the results often turn out well for the student. Parental influence is defined as any opinion, attitude, or action (other than direct…

This study compared parent stress, family functioning, and social support in 55 families with a developmentally handicapped child (ages 0-7) and 55 families with a nonhandicapped child. Findings indicated that a young handicapped child did induce greater stress in his parents than did a nonhandicapped child. Parents of handicapped children…

One of the best guarantees of a child's success in school is his or her parents' involvement in education. This resource guide provides information in the following areas: (1) family types; (2) expectations of parents, teachers, and administrators; (3) barriers encountered by parents and teachers; (4) home environment improvements through family…

Many barriers exist in the transition of disabled students from the educational system to postsecondary life. Transition systems have been developed to overcome these barriers, focusing on the needs of the individual, the role of parents, and the role of the state education agency. Several cooperative interagency models have been created by states…